Some GPs and independent practitioners have asked the MDU about their legal and ethical responsibilities when using virtual servers accessible over the internet, known as ‘data clouds’, to store patient information. The MDU, which indemnifies over half of all UK doctors, advises that clinicians consider very carefully the risks involved in storing confidential medical information in third party off-site cloud facilities. Dr Claire Macaulay, MDU medico-legal adviser, explained: “Traditionally information such as patient records has been stored locally within the practice. But cloud computing can offer a convenient alternative, not least because the information can be accessed from any computer. However, the potential security and confidentiality risks of doing so may, for the present time, outweigh the benefits.” – See more at: http://www.themdu.com/press-centre/press-releases/get-patient-consent-before-storing-records-in-data-clouds-mdu-advises#sthash.565UnHGT.dpuf